SOVIET DESIGNS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 October 1939, Page 5

SOVIET DESIGNS

THREAT SEEN TO MIDDLE EAST REPORTED BOLSHEVISATION PLANS. UNITED MOSLEM OPPOSITION TO COMMUNISM. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. NEW YORK, Otober 28. The Cairo correspondent of lhe “New York Times” says it is generally believed there that the Soviet is preparing to Bolshevise the Middle East. This opinion is based on the large concentration of troops at Baku (the Russian port on the Caspian Sea). The Russian belief is that the East, with its semi-feudal system, lends itself readily to Bolshevisation. It is believed that as a pretext for an invasion of Iran the Soviet will ask for an outlet in the Persian Gulf. A refusal is expected, with Turkey holding aloof. It is improbable that the Iranian army will be able to resist long, and thus 'the entire Middle East, including India, will be endangered. But. Russia will be disagreeably surprised if she embarks on the campaign. Besides the tremendous resistance by the Allies, and despite their preoccupation in the West, she will face the resistance of the entire population of the Middle Eastern countries of Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where more than 90 per cent of the people are * Moslems. Also the 80,000,000 Moslems of India are all bitter foes of Communism on religious grounds. The benefits with which the Soviet may intend to brige the natives are insufficient to compensate for the fear that the Soviet will abolish Islam. No Ogpu and no wholesale shootings can force the devout Moslems to submit to Communism.